Chair or seat



' A ril 38, 1942,

J. TURNER 2,281,341

CHAIR 0R SEAT Filed Nov. 23, 19:58 4 Shts-Sheet 1 1720923137 ,5; 707%[kW/2&2

April 28, 1942. Q J. TURNE R CHAIR OR SEAT Filed Nov; 25, 19:58 v4Sheets-Sheet 2 I 1722 5 0/ a Jh ZZW/ZW WW April 28, 1942.

J. TURNER CHAIR on SEAT Filed Nov. 25, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Apnl 28,1942. J. TURNER 2,281,341

CHAIR OR SEAT Filed Nov. 23, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 frame to which thestructure Patented Apr. 28,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHAIR 0R SEAT John Turner, Contoocook, N. H.Application November 23, 1938, Serial No. 241,911

I 8 Claims. (01. 155-119) This invention relates to chairs or seats andhas for an object to provide a structure having the advantages of thestructure shown in my Patent No, 2,097,541, granted November-2, 1937,but which is softer and less rigid, and thus is more comfortable.

A further object is to provide further improvements which increase itsrange of utility.

To these ends the members which transfer pressure between the seat andback portionsof the structure are made resilient instead of relativelyrigid as in my patented. construction, and are so formed that they arecapable of body supporting functions not heretofore possible.

A fln'ther object is to provide a method particularly suitable formanufacturing a chair or seat in accordance with this invention.

For a more completeunderstanding of this invention, reference may be hadto the accompanying drawings in which 7 Figures 1 and 2 are front andend elevations,

' respectively, of a seat embodying the invention and particularlysuitable for car or bus service. Figure 3 is a fragmentary detailsection to a larger scale on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figures 4 and 5 are detail sections to a larger scale on lines 4-4 and5-5, respectively, of Figure 1.

,Figures 6 and 7 are views similar to Figures 4 and 5, respectively, butshowing a modification,

Figure 8 is a detail section on line 0-0 of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a. fragmentary vertical section portion showing a Figure 15is a perspective view in section 9 showing the assembled parts asremoved from the formof Figure '13.

Figure 16 is aperspective view of the seat shown in Figure 15 is to beapplied.

Figure 17 is a view similar to Figure 15 with parts broken away to showa modified construction.

Figures 18 and 19 are detail sections on,the correspondingly numberedsection lines of Figures 15 and 17, respectivelyr The seat structure isbuilt upon a skeleton frame indicated generally at I having a top backmember 2' (see Figure 16). nd a front seat member 3. These may be joinedby side frame members 4 which may be extended above thetop back framemember 2 to form a cross handle member 5. These frame members may besupported on a suitable sub-structureincluding legs 6 and horizontalbracing members 1 of any suitable description.

The top back frame member 2 and the front seat frame member 3 furnishthe entire framing supports for the seat and back structure and areprovided with means for securing the seat and back structure thereto- Asshown they are provided with spaced perforations as 8 for this Purpose.The seat and back structure may be formed up in various ways, but withcertain essential elements which comprise a flexible layer of materialwhich is suitably surfaced for the desired finish of the forward face ofthe back and top face of the seat, and a plurality of flexible resilientsupporting ribs rigidly secured at their ends to the frame structure andso related that they act to resiliently transfer pressure between theback and seat portions of the overlying material which they directlysupport without the necessity of any intermediate springs. Such ribs maybe formed from spring wire and for this purpose a steel wire in ofapproximately 0.125 inch in diameter has been found very satisfactory.In order that it may each of these wires should son occupying'the seatand result in an extremely comfortable support. At the ends of a seatstructure, or of a seating where a plurality of seatings are arranged'ina single structrue. it may. be desired to increase the size of the ofthe seat structure, wheresupporting wire somewhat to form a more rigidstructureand thus form an effective division between the seatinss.

In order to rigidly secure the ends of the wires III, constructions suchas shownin Figures 4 to '1 may be employed. Referring to Figure 4, whichshows the forward seatframe member I, itwill be noted that the wires IIhave their forward ends turned sharply downwardly and outwardly as shownat I2 where they are inserted in the perforations 8 and are clamped Inposition as by the clamping plates IS enga ing over a portion of thewires and secured as by the clamping bolts and nuts at Ii. The wires attheir top back portions may be turned downwardly as shown at It inFigure 5 then turned forwardly as at is and their extremities sharplbent as at 20 to pass through the holes 8 in the top back frame member 2where they may be clamped by a clamping plate 22 secured in position asby the screws 23.

In Figure 6 a somewhat modified front seat connectionhas beenillustrated in which the front seat frame member 3a is shown as elevatedabove the side members to form a bumper to limit the possible downwardmotion of the forward portion of the seat structure should aheavylocalized load be imposed thereon. The wires Ia are curved upwardlytoward the supporting portion of the seat to a greater extent than thewires I0 shown in Figure 4. but they may be secured to the front seatframe member I in in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 4, withthe clamping plate I and the bolts and nuts at I6.

In Figure '7 the upper ends of the wires III are shown as brought downand inserted in an upward direction through the top back frame member 20where they are secured by a curved clamping plate 25 and bolts and nutsat 26.

As before noted, the flexible body support which directly supports thebody of the occupant may be variously formed and secured to the wiresI0. Thus in Figures 3 and 18, the wires Il may be held between twolayers of fabric 30 and 3| which may be stitched or otherwise securedtogether on each side of each wire I0 as at 32 and which may be cementedtogether as by rubber cement in between. A layer of cement as 33 may bespread on the top or outer face of the fabric layer 3I and there may beapplied thereto a rattan or paper fabric or any other suitable materialwhich will impart some lateral stiffness to the material so as to tendto holdthe wires I0 intermediate their ends in parallel relation and totransmit sumcient load from one to another to avoid localirregularities. On this layer may be cemented, as by the cement 34, alayer of rubber or padding as at 35 to the forward face of which may besecured the surfacing fabric 30 which is exposed on the forward face ofthe chair structure. This facing material 36 may be extended laterallybeyond the underlyingmaterial and may be finished by folding in underthe edge of the entire body supporting structure or in any othersuitable manner. In Figure 3 it is shown as secured by stitching as at30 forming an ornamental beading 39. This surfacing fabric may be alsoextended beyond the wire ends as indicated at the top of the backportion in Figure and this may be brought around the back top framemember and secured inposition as by the bolts 23 shown in Figure 5.Similarly the facing material may .be secured to the front seat framemember in the manner shown in Figures 5 and 7 areas for the top backmember or any other suitable 1 or desired manner.

In Figures 17 and 19 the wires .II are shown as embedded in a layer orrubber or the like 40, which may be vulcanized to a fabric or otherflexible layer 4| which gives a finish to the back of the seatstructure. overlying this rubber 46 may be placed a wire netting orother suitable stiflening material 42 to the upper face of which may besecured, as by vulcanization or the like. the cushioning rubber layer 43which may well be sponge rubber.

In Figures 9 and 10 the flexible material is shown as being horizontallyribbed, having the horizontal depressions 45 in its forward face, and asuflicient lateral stiffness may then be secured as by laterallyextending ribbons of sheet metal or other suitable material as 46overlying the wires I0 and embedded in any suitable manner in thestructure. In Figure 11 longitudinal strips of thin she metal or thelike, as 50, overlying the wires I0 are illustrated, these strips 50forming cores for longitudinally extending ribbed portions SI presentingdepressions 52 running parallel with the wires I0. this ribbed structurehaving inherently sufficient lateral rigidity. The depressions 45 and 52may be made in any suitable way, as, for example, by stitching or otherfastenings securing the outer walls together and extending through thinportions of the intermediate material 35.

In Figure 12 still another modification is shown in which the wires IIIare covered by layers 55 which may be either textile or wire fabric,transverse wires, or any other suitable structure which impart thedesired lateral stiffness.

When a seat structure so built up is used in a vehicle, such, forexample, as a motor vehicle, it may be desirable to prevent the bodysupporting structure from being thrown forwardly as in the case ofsudden stops, since it is secured to the frame at its ends only. Thismay be accomplished by securing to the body supporting structure at orabout the juncture between the back and seat portions, forward and upperends of tie members such as shown at 00 in Figure 9, and the lower orrearward ends of these members being fixedly secured as to a cross framemember I. If desired, such a tie member may comprise a coil spring 62surrounding a flexible strap or the like 63 which positively limits theforward mo tion of the seat structure with reference to the frame whilethe spring may act as a cushioning extension element resiliently holdingthe body supporting structure while it remains within its limit ofmotion as determined by the length of the strap between its points ofattachment to the body supporting structure and to the frame.

In Figures 13 to 15 is illustrated a desirable method of forming up andassembling the body supporting structure on the frame. Referring toFigures 13 and 14 at I00 is shown an assembly form'having its forwardand top faces formed to the desired contour of the seat-supportingstructure. To its top back portion may be bolted a clamping bar IOI. At'its forward portion beneath the curved extension I02, it may beprovided with a forwardly and downwardly inclined surface I04 providedwith grooves I05 corresponding in spacing to the wires I0, and these maybe secured in position temporarily during the asmay be provided withgrooves to receive the upper ends of the wires it, if desired. The wiresthemselves are pre-formed by suitable presses to the precise contourdesired before being assembled with the other parts of the structure.First, a 5

layer of any suitable sheet material such asmay be employed to form theback finish N0 of the chair structure is laid over the back andseatsimulating faces HI and N2 of the form I00 and the wires ID are thenassembled thereon and rigidly clamped in position as by the clampingbars "I and I06. Then the other materials, in-

cluding the lateral stiffening and the cushioning material are assembledand either cemented in place where cement is used, or in case it isdesired to vulcanize, the entire structure may be assembled withunvulcanized rubber layers, which being unvulcanized .are in plasticcondition.

when the parts have thus been assembled and at least temporarily securedtogether, they are removed as a unit from the form Hill as shown inFigures 15 and 17. Where the unvulcanized rubber is employed to cementthe parts together and to. form the cushioning face of the bodysupporting structure with or without the facing material as may bedesired, depending on whether or not the facing material is of acharacter which can withstand the vulcanizing process, the parts aresecured together by vulcanization. The structure thus formed is thenassembled on the frame, the ends of the wires i0 being then secured tothe top back frame member and the front seat member, and the marginalportions of the covering are then finished oil? as desired.

It will be noted that not only is the seat structure soft andcomfortable to the chair occupant, conforming automatically to hisfigure, but also that it is unnecessary to provide any separate seat orback cushions or to employ springs of any description other than thosefurnished by the supporting wires l0. Not only is an exceedinglyeconomical and comfortable structure produced, but also there is a greatsaving in weight and in space occupied, thus leaving much room availablebeneath the seat for baggage, tools,

- or thelike, when the seat is used in conveyances,

and in general being highly suitable for such use as well as for generalutility.

From the foregoing description of certain embodiments of this inventionand of a method by which the structure of the invention may be readilymade, it should be evident to those skilled in the art that variousother changes and modifications might be made without departing from thespirit or scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I- claim: l. A seat structure having a plurality of seatings having atop back frame member and afront seat frame member, a flexible bodysupporting layer of material extending between said frame members, andribs of resilient material rigidly secured at their ends to said framemembers and arranged in spaced parallelrelation and underlying anddirectly supporting said flexible layer, said ribs each presenting aforwardly bowed back portion and a reversely curved seat portion, theribs defining the'side limits of individual seatings being of greaterstiffness than those intermediate thereto.

2. A seat structure comprising a plurality of superposed layers ofmaterial facially cemented together, one of said layers consisting of aplurality of spaced parallel spring wires contoured to form seat andback portions and extending lengthwise thereof, another layer consistingof spaced parallel stiffening strands extending crosswise of said springwires, and a frame having top back and front seat members to which theend portions of said wires are rigidly secured.

3. A seat structure comprising a plurality of superposed layers ofmaterial, one of said layers consisting of a plurality of spacedparallel spring wires contoured to form seat and back portions andextending lengthwise thereof, another layer consisting of spacedparallel stiffening strands, said layers being united together solely bya rubber compound, and a frame having top back and front seat members towhich the end portions of said wires are rigidly secured.

4-. A seat structure comprising a vulcanized layer having thelongitudinal contour of back and seat portions and having incorporatedin its rear portion adjacent to its outer face a plurality of springwires extending longitudinally thereof in parallel spaced relation andforwardly of said spring wires transversely extending individualstiffening strands and comprising a layer of sponge rubber forwardly ofthe stiffening strands, and a frame having top back and front seatmembers to which the end portions of said wires are rigidly secured.

5. A seat structure comprising a vulcanized layer having thelongitudinal contour of forwardly bowed back and reversely curved seatportions and having incorporated in its rear portion adjacent to itsouter face a plurality of spring wires extending longitudinally thereofin parallel spaced relation and forwardly of said spring wirestransversely extending individual stiifening strands and comprising alayer of sponge rubber forwardly of the stiiiening strands, and a framehaving top back and front seat members to which the end portions of saidwires are rigidly secured.

6. The method of making a seat structure which comprises forming aplurality of spring wires into seat and back form having a forwardlybowed back portion and a reversely curved seat portion merging with saidback portion and with projecting ends, laying sheet material over a seatform having a contour similar to that of said wires, arranging aplurality of said wires in substantially parallel relation on said sheetmaterial and clampingsaid ends in position, overlying said wires withlateral stiffening material and unvulcanized rubber, and vulcanizingsaid rubber, wires, sheet material, and stiffening-material together,unclamping said wire ends, and

i removing the structure from said form, and

then permanently securing said wire ends to top back and front seatframe members withsaid vulcanized structure free from the frame betweensaid members.

7. The method of making a seat structure which comprises forming aplurality of spring wires into seat and back form having a forwardlybowed back portion and a reversely curved seat portion merging with saidback-portion and with projecting ends, laying sheet material over a seatform having a contour similar to that of said wires, arranging aplurality of said wires in substantially parallel relation on said sheetmaterial and clamping said ends in position, overlying said wires withindividual transverse stiif-.

ening strands and unvulcanized rubber, and vulcanizing said rubber,-wires, stiffening strands and sheet material layer togethenunclampingsaid wire ends, and removing the structure from said form, and thenpermanently securing said wire ends to top back and front seat iramemembers with said vulcanized structure free from the frame between saidmembers.

8. The method of making a seat structure which comprises forming aplurality of spring wires into seat and back form having a !orwardlybowed back portion and a reversely curved seat portion merging with saidback portion and with projecting ends, laying sheet material over a seatiorm having a contour similar to that of said wires, arranging aplurality of 10 frame between said members.

JOHN TURNER.

